Fence tumbler lock



FENCE TUMBLER LOCK Filed Jan. 19, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet l rzd/r-czfl darcdi /2A Sept. 15, 1970 J, L, ORR 3,528,267

FENCE TUMBLER LOCK Filed Jan. 19, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 15, 1970 R7 3,528,267

FENCE TUMBLER LOCK Filed Jan. 19, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet L5 i kg g UnitedStates Patent US. C]. 70-21 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Afence-type tumbler for use in a lock assembly such as a combinationshackle lock to release the shackle without the necessity of dialing theproper combination thereof. The fence tumbler lock utilizes a key of agenerally cruciform cross section which is conformably received in thewall of a lock casing to actuate radially reciprocable tumblers to aposition where the tumblers and their rotatable tumbler guide are freeto rotate with the key relative to the lock casing. The tumbler guide isoperatively connected to a lock bolt for actuation thereof where thelock is actuated by the proper key. A combination shackle lock isprovided with a shackle bolt which is allowed to rotate and release ashackle upon the actuation of combination disks to align a gate formedthereby with a fence integral with a fence bolt which is both rotatableand reciprocable in the combination lock housing. The fence bolt andshackle bolt rotate simultaneously upon dialing of the propercombination and pulling of the shackle, and the fence bolt may bereciprocated to a second position by a key-actuated lock in thecombination lock housing. A recess is formed in the shackle bolt to bealigned with the fence when the fence bolt is in its second position;the recess allowing rotation of the shackle bolt relative to the fencebolt to release the shackle.

The present invention relates to a novel fence type tumbler, itsapplication to any lock and its potential keying for pass and masterkeys. Also, this invention relates to a novel lock bolt arrangement fora combination shackle lock utilizing a rotatable shackle bolt and arotatable and reciprocable fence bolt; the fence bolt being actuated forreciprocation by a tumbler lock to allow actuation of the shackle boltindependently of the combination disks.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a lockassembly having a short cylinder length utilizing a fence-type tumblerwith a suitable key for actuation of the radially reciprocable tumblers.A casing for the lock has an opening complementary to the cross sectionof the key to orient and receive the key, and a rotatable tumbler guideis mounted in the casing to guide and carry the tumblers. A plurality oftumblers are received in radially extending grooves in the tumbler guideand are inwardly biased toward the key entering at the center of thelock casing. The inner end of each tumbler has a camming edge adapted tocooperate with an actuating shoulder of the key to provide outwardmovement of the tumblers to a position where the tumblers and thetumbler guide are allowed to rotate within the casing. The tumblers havevariable camming edges to agree with variations in the key bitting sothat the outward movement of each tumbler will be specific to the pointwhere rotation of the tumbler guide is allowed.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a lockassembly having fence-type tumblers carried by a tumbler guide that isoperatively connected to a suitable lock bolt for rotation orreciprocation thereof. Each tumbler is provided with a depending lug orfence on the tumbler which reciprocates in an aligned radial slot formedin the tumbler guide and extends through the guide slot into a slot inthe lock casing. The rear wall of the ice casing is provided with aplurality of T-shaped slots therein with each slot receiving a dependingfence on a tumbler. The crossbar of the T allows radial movement of theturnblers only when a proper key is in operation; the crossbar allowingmovement to a position aligned with the stern of the T to allow arcuatemovement of the tumblers upon rotation of the tumbler guide. If animproper key acts upon the tumbler, the fence will not be aligned withthe stem of the T but will either be raised short of the stem or bemoved in the crossbar beyond the stem; either position preventingarcuate movement of the tumbler. Thus, the tumblers and the T slotsfunction to provide anti-picking notches for the lock.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of acombination shackle lock that is capable of actuation to release theshackle without actuation of the combination disks. The combinationshackle lock includes a pivotally mounted shackle bolt which cooperateswith the shackle of the lock, and a fence bolt which is both pivotalabout the pivot pin for the shackle bolt and is movable relative to thepivot pin upon actuation of a tumbler lock mounted in the combinationlock casing. The fence bolt includes an integral fence adapted to bereceived in a gate formed by aligned notches in the combination disks,and the fence bolt and shackle bolt pivot simultaneously to move thefence into the gate when the shackle is withdrawn from the lock casing.

The present invention also comprehends the provision of a combinationshackle lock where the shackle bolt is allowed to pivot relative to thefence bolt and release the shackle upon the actuation of the fence boltby a tumbler lock assembly actuated by a suitable key. The fence boltincludes the integral fence that normally engages an inner recessed edgeof the shackle bolt with both bolts, being pivoted when the combinationsetting of the combination disks is accomplished and the shacklewithdrawn. The shackle bolt also includes a second deeper recessconformably receiving the fence on the fence bolt when the fence bolt isreciprocated to a second position upon actuation of the associatedtumbler lock. The deeper recess in the shackle bolt allows pivotalmovement of the shackle bolt relative to the fence bolt to release theshackle without actuation of the combination disks.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity,efiiciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such furtherobjects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear andare inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of a combination shackle lock showingthe fence tumbler lock key opening therein.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the combination shackle lock withthe cover removed to expose the tum blers of the fence tumbler lock.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 but with the key insertedand the tumbler guide rotated carrying the tumblers to the unlockedposition.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1 but withthe key inserted and the key and tumblers rotated to the unlockedposition.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the fence tumbler lock of FIG. 1 with thefence and shackle bolts; the combination shackle lock casing shown indotted outline.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the combination shackle lock withthe front wall and dial omitted and the combination disks shown indotted outline, the fence tumbler lock being shown in locked position.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the fence tumbler look and fenceand shackle bolts taken on the left-hand side of FIG. 6 with thecombination shackle lock casing shown in dotted outline.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 with the combination lock casing andshackle omitted, but showing the position of the shackle bolt and fencebolt when the combina-- tion setting has been made and the shackle iswithdrawn.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the position of theshackle bolt and fence bolt upon actuation of the fence tumbler lock andwith the shackle withdrawn, the combination shackle lock casing andshackle shown in dotted outline.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but showing analternate method of inserting the tumblers and related parts in thehousing.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the actuating end of the key for thefence tumbler lock.

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the fence tumbler lock casingremoved from the combination lock assembly.

FIG. 13 is a front elevational vie-w of the tumbler guide.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a tumbler in the fence tumbler lock.

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of the shackle bolt.

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the shackle bolt taken from theleft-hand side of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of the fence bolt.

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the fence bolt taken from theright-hand side of FIG. 17.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings whereinare shown illustrative embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 1discloses a combination shackle lock 10 having a lock casing or housing11 and a reciprocable and rotatable shackle 12 having a short leg and along leg; such as in my copending, application Ser. No. 687,675, filedDec. 4, 1967. The casing includes a rotatable combination dial 13 on thefront face thereof (FIGS. 5 and 7) and a raised annular flange 14 on theback plate 15 thereof forming a housing for a fence tumbler lock 16therein; the back plate 15 being clinched onto the side wall 17 of thecasing 11.

The back plate 15 forms a partition wall between the combination lockassembly 18 and the fence tumbler lock 16 and is provided with fourcircumferentially spaced T- shaped slots 19 (FIG. 6) and an L-shapedslot 21 (FIG. 12) for a purpose to be later described. Mounted withinthe circular flange 14 is the fence tumbler lock 16 including a circularrotatable tumbler guide 22 (FIG. 13) having a central opening 23therethrough; the opening 23 having the general shape of a Maltese crosswith radially extending diverging portions 24 opening into the centeropening and separated by diverging solid portions or actuating arms 25.Also intersecting the center opening 23 are four circumferentiallyequally spaced and radially extending tumbler grooves or channels 26.Within each channel 26 is positioned a compression spring 27, and a slot28 is located below the channel 26 and of a width less than the channel.

Within each channel 26 is received a fence tumbler 29 having a generallyrectangular body with an inwardly extending rounded camming nose 31formed by converging camming edges 32 (FIG. 14). The outer end of thetumbler 29 is bifurcated to form a central and downwardly bent tongue 33that extends through the slot 28 and into an aligned T-slot 19 in theadjacent partition wall 15. The compression spring 27 at one end abutsthe tongue 33 and at the opposite end abuts the outer wall 34 of thegroove 26 to bias the tumbler inwardly to a locked position partiallyoverlapping the central opening 23; the tongue 33 in the slot 28limiting reciprocable movement of the tumbler. The tumbler guide 22 alsois provided with a longitudinal slot 35 therein which is generallyaligned with the L-s'haped slot 21 in the back plate 15.

A circular cover 36 is mounted in a recessed shoulder 37 (FIG. 4) at theupper end of the annular flange 14 and is secured therein. The cover 36has a central cruciform shaped opening 38 to receive the end of acruciform key 39 (FIG. 11); the end 40 (FIG. 1) of one arm of theopening 38 being enlarged to receive an enlarged portion 40 of the key39 to orient the key in the lock. As

seen in FIG. 2, the tumblers 29 are normally positioned and biased inthe lock to form a cruciform opening 41 therein and therebetween alignedwith the opening 38 in the cover 36 for insertion of the key. The key 39has four outwardly extending arms 42 providing the cruciformconfiguration with each arm having an end portion 43 adapted to bereceived in the arcuate portions 24 of the opening 23 underlying thecamming ends or noses 31 of the tumblers 29, an intermediate shoulder 44aligned with the camming noses 31 of the fence tumblers 29, and a narrowslotted portion 45 aligned with the cover 36 and relatively rotatabletherein. Rotation of the key 39 Will cause the intermediate shoulders 44to actuate the tumblers 29.

On the inner surface 46 of the back plate 15 is an integral tumbler post47 extending forwardly with its axis aligned with the axis of therotatable dial 13. The post provides an axis of rotation for andreceives thereon a plurality of combination disks 48 (three disks shownin FIG. 4) and spacer disks 49 therebetween of the combination lockassembly 18. The upper tumbler 48 will be operatively connected to therotatable dial 13. Each tumbler 48 (FIG. 8) has a gate notch 51 in theperiphery thereof and may have a disperser notch 52 if a disk disperseris utilized in the lock.

A pivot post 53 extends between the front wall and back plate 15 of thecasing 11 and receives thereon a fence bolt 54 and a shackle bolt 61.The fence bolt 54 has a slightly curved bolt body 55 (FIGS. 17 and 18)and is provided adjacent its upper end with an elongated arcuate slot 56receiving the pivot post 53; the slot allowing movement of the bolt 54relative to the post. Adjacent the opposite end of the bolt is alaterally and forwardly extending fence 57 integral with the bolt 54 onthe inner curved edge 58 thereof. The fence bolt 54 is positionedadjacent the back plate 15 and has a rearwardly extending integralprojection or pin 59 substantially aligned with and opposite the fence57 and extending through the L-shaped slot 21 in the back plate 15 andinto the slot 35 in the tumbler guide 22.

The arcuate leg of the slot 21 allows for rotational movement of thefence bolt 54 with the tumbler guide 22 and relative to the post 53. Theradial leg of the slot 21. and the aligned slot 35 in the tumbler guide22 allow for pivotal movement of the fence bolt 54 around the pivot post53.

In front of the fence bolt 54 is the shackle bolt 61 which has anopening 62 to conformably receive the pivot post 53 for pivotal movementthereabout. The bolt 61 is provided with a hook 63 at its upper endcooperating with a hook 64 on the short leg of the shackle 12 and awedge-shaped portion 65 adjacent the lower end to cooperate with awedge-shaped recess 66 in the long leg of the shackle. At the lower endof the shackle bolt 61 is an undercut projection for a disk disperser(not shown). On the inner curved edge 67 of the bolt 61 is a two-steprecess having a shallow recess 68 and a deep recess 69 above the shallowrecess 68. The bolt 61 is cut away at 71 (FIG. 16) to allow for movementof the fence bolt 54 relative thereto, and the fence 57 extends into andis normally positioned in the shallow recess 68 so that the bolts 54, 61act together.

Considering operation of the lock, the shackle 12 can be released by thedialing of the proper combination setting which will align the gatenotches 51 on the combination disks 48 in the path of travel of thefence 57. Upon withdrawal of the shackle 12, the shackle lock bolt 61 ispivoted and the recess 68 engaging the fence 57 causes simultaneouspivotal movement of the fence bolt 54; the slot 35 in the tumbler guide22 and the aligned radial portion of the L-shaped slot 21 allowingmovement of the pin 59 on the fence bolt 54. This operation isindependent of the fence tumbler lock 16.

If the lock is to be opened by authorized personnel without thecombination setting, such as in a school or factory, a master key 39 isutilized to actuate the fence tumbler lock 16. The cruciform key 39 isinserted into the housing formed by the flange 14 through the opening 37in the cover 36 and into the opening 23 in the tumbler guide 22 with theend 40' of the key 39 abutting the back plate 15. Upon counterclockwiserotation (as seen in FIGS. 1 to 3) of the key 39, the intermediateshoulders 44 engage and cam the tumblers 29 outward against the force ofthe springs 27. The crossbar of each T-slot 19 allows for radialmovement of the tumbler 29 with the tongue 33 thereof moving in thecrossbar of each slot 19.

With the proper key 39, the shoulders 44 will cam the tumblers 29outward to a point where the tongue 33 of each tumbler 29 will bealigned with the main leg 19' of each slot 19. At that point, the endportions 43 of the key 39 contact the actuating arms 25 of the tumblerguide 22 between the arcuate opening portions 24 so that the tumblerguide 22 will rotate simultaneously with the key 39. Limited rotation ofthe tumbler guide 22 and limited arcuate movement of the fence bolt 54is allowed by the pin 59 in the arcuate portion of the L-shaped slot 21.Also, movement of the fence bolt 54 is limited by the pivot post 53acting in the arcuate slot 56 of the fence bolt 54. Rotation of thetumbler guide 22 causes movement of the fence bolt 54 relative to theshackle bolt 61 to align the fence 57 with the deeper recess 69 in theedge 67 of the shackle bolt 61. Withdrawal of the shackle 12 will causepivotal movement of the shackle bolt 61 relative to the fence bolt 54with the recess 69 receiving the fence 57. Thus, the shackle can bewithdrawn, and to lock the shackle, the above steps are reversed so thatthe key 39 can be withdrawn from the fence lock assembly.

FIG. discloses an alternate embodiment of fence tumbler lock 16illustrating a slightly different method of assembly. In thisembodiment, the fence tumbler lock casing 72 and cover 73 are formedintegral with the back plate The casing '72 houses the tumbler guide 22tumblers 29 and compression springs 27*, and the cover 73 contains anopening 38 to receive a cruciform key 39*. The partition 74 separatingthe fence tumbler lock 16 from the combination shackle lock 18 is separate from the back plate 15 and is received and secured in a recess 75in the casing 72. The partition 74 contains the T-shaped slots 19' andthe L-shaped slot, and the tumbler post 47 is integral with thepartition 74 and carries the combination disks 48 and the spacers 49 ofthe combination shackle lock 18.

While the lock assembly utilizing the fence type tumblers has been shownand described as being applicable to actuate the fence bolt in acombination shackle lock, it is not my desire or intent to limit thescope or the utility of the improved features of the present invention,as the lock assembly having fence-type tumblers could obviously beutilized to actuate other lock bolts or mechanisms, and the combinationshackle lock utilizing a shackle bolt and fence bolt could be providedwith other types of key-operated tumbler locks to actuate andreciprocate the fence bolt. Furthermore, the key does not have to becruciform in cross section, but could have more or less than four arms.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A lock assembly utilizing a fence-type tumbler, comprising a lockcasing having a back plate and side wall, a tumbler guide mounted forrotation in said casing, locking means operatively connected to saidtumbler guide, said tumbler guide having a central opening to receive asuitable key, a cover for said casing having a central openingconformably receiving the key, a plurality of radially reciprocabletumblers mounted in said tumbler guide, a depending fence on eachtumbler, said tumbler guide having radial slots therein receiving saidfences, said casing back plate having a plurality of slots generallyaligned with said tumblers to allow radial and arcuate movement thereof,and resilient means biasing said tumblers inwardly to inactive position.

2. A lock assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said slots in theback plate each have a radial leg and a connecting arcuate leg toreceive said fence therein.

3. A lock assembly as set forth in claim 2, in which said slots in theback plate are generally T-shaped with the crossbar of the T being theradially extending leg and the main stem of the T is the arcuate slotportion.

4. A lock assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said tumbler guidehas a plurality of radial circumferentially equally spaced channels inone face thereof correponding to and receiving the tumblers therein forsliding movement, said tumbler guide also having a central opening toreceive said key with inwardly extending stop projections correspondingto the number of tumblers, and each of said tumblers having a roundedcamming nose at one end thereof normally partially overlapping thecentral opening.

5. A lock assembly as set forth in claim 4, in which said key has aplurality of radially extending arms corresponding to the number oftumblers, said arms being received in the central opening in the tumblerguide and having reduced shoulders adjacent the ends of the arms adaptdto engage the camming noses of said tumblers to actuate said tumblersupon rotation of said key.

6. A lock assembly as set forth in laim 5, in which said arms on saidkey engage said stop projections upon limited rotation of said key and,if said fences on the tumblers are aligned with the arcuate portions ofsaid T-shaped slots, said key rotates said tumbler guide which carriessaid tumblers.

7. A lock assembly as set forth in claim 6, including means connectingsaid locking means and said tumbler guide through said back plate, saidback plate having an opening to allow movement of said connecting meansupon rotation of said tumbler guide.

8. A lock assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said locking meansincludes a pivotally and reciprocably mounted fence bolt on the oppositeside of the back plate having an arcuate slot adjacent one end, a pivotpin extending through said slot in the fence bolt, a pin on said fencebolt adjacent the opposite end thereof extending through said back plateand into the tumbler guide, a fence on said fence bolt, a shackle boltadjacent the fence bolt, and means causing said shackle bolt and fencebolt to pivot simultaneously in one position of the fence bolt, and in asecond position of the fence bolt, to allow pivotal movement of theshackle bolt relative to the fence bolt with pivotal movement of theshackle bolt releasing a shackle.

9. A lock assemly as set forth in claim 8, in which said last mentionedmeans includes an L-shaped slot having a radial portion and an integralright angular portion in the back plate and a radial slot in saidtumbler guide receiving said fence bolt pin, said radial slot in thetumbler guide and said radial portion of said L-shaped slot allowingpivotal movement of the fence bolt, and said integral right angularportion of the L-shaped slot allowing reciprocable movement of the fencebolt upon rotation of the tumbler guide.

10. A lock assembly as set forth in claim 8, including a curved inneredge on said shackle bolt having a two-step recess therein with ashallow recess portion and a deep recess portion, said shallow recessportion normally re ceiving said fence on said fence bolt to providesimultaneous pivotal movement of said fence bolt and shackle bolt, andsaid deep recess portion is aligned with and receives said fence whenthe fence bolt is in its second position to allow pivotal movement ofthe shackle bolt relative to said fence bolt.

11. In a combination shackle lock having a casing, a shackle, and a postin said casing carrying a plurality of combination disks, each diskhaving a gate notch in the periphery thereof adapted to be aligned toform a gate, a shackle bolt pivotally mounted in said casing andcooperating with the shackle, a pivot pin for said shackle bolt, a fencebolt mounted on said pivot pin for pivotal and reciprocable movementrelative thereto, a fence integral with said fence bolt, and meansadapted to actuate said fence bolt between first and second positions,said shackle bolt including a curved inner edge having a two step recesstherein with a shallow recess portion and a deep recess portion, saidshallow recess portion normally receiving said fence when said fencebolt is in its first position to provide for simultaneous pivotalmovement of said fence bolt and shackle bolt to move the fence into thegate, and said deep recess portion receiving said fence when the fencebolt is in its second position to allow pivotal movement of said shacklebolt relative to said fence bolt with pivotal movement of said shacklebolt acting to release said shackle.

12. A combination shackle lock as set forth in claim 11 in which saidcombination disks form a gate to receive said fence when said fence boltand shackle bolt are simultaneously pivoted.

13. In a combination shackle lock having a casing, a shackle and a postin said casing carrying a plurality of combination disks, each diskhaving a gate notch in the periphery thereof adapted to be aligned toform a gate, a shackle bolt pivotally mounted in said casing andcooperating with the shackle, a pivot pin for said shackle bolt, a fencebolt mounted on said pivot pin for pivotal and reciprocable movementrelative thereto, a fence integral with said fence bolt, and meansadapted to actuate said fence bolt between first and second positionsincluding a key-actuated lock, a connecting pin extending through saidcasing to connect said fence bolt with said key-actuated lock, saidcasing having a back plate separating said combination shackle lock fromsaid keyactuated lock and having an L-shaped slot receiving saidconnecting pin, said fence bolt and shackle bolt pivoting simultaneouslywhen the fence bolt is in its first position, and when the fence bolt isin its second position, said shackle bolt pivoting relative to saidfence bolt with pivotal movement of said shackle bolt acting to releasesaid shackle.

14. A combination shackle lock as set forth in claim 13, in which saidL-shaped slot has a radial portion allowing pivotal movement of saidfence bolt and an arcuate portion allowing movement of the fence boltbetween its first and second positions, said fence bolt having anarcuate slot adjacent one end to receive said pivot pin, said arcuateslot allowing movement of said fence bolt relative to said pivot pinbetween its first and second positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,407,267 2/ 1922 Hackland 703 8X 2,049,416 8/1936 Alden 70284 X 2,931,203 4/1960 Check 7021 FOREIGNPATENTS 575,827 5/ 1933 Germany.

RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner E. J. MCCARTHY, Assistant ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R. 70285

